The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has assured that the federal government will continue to invest hugely in education to boost the quality of teaching and learning in the country.

Mr Adamu made the pledge in a message he sent to the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, near Nsukka in Enugu State on Saturday.

At the ceremony, no fewer than 1,611 students were awarded Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE), while 69 others got Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from the institution.

Mr Adamu said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had always given education special attention, which he said, informed the decision to upgrade teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

“This administration invests hugely in education to ensure quality teaching and learning.

“Government has ensured that all tertiary institutions in the country received robust interventions from TetFund to boost infrastructure in institutions.

“Many structures I inaugurated earlier today in this college before the convocation ceremony, attest to government’s huge funding on tertiary institutions in the country.

“It is because of the regard government has for teachers as critical stakeholders in education that it upgraded teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years,” he said.

Represented by Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Adamu said “Teachers are critical stakeholders in education, so they should always strive to comport themselves to dignity and respect the teaching profession deserves.

Also speaking, Provost of the college, Pauline Ikwuegbu, who is also the first female provost of the college, said “we conferred 1,611 graduates with NCE and 69 with PDE certificates.”

She listed some of her achievements since assumption of office in 2018, attributing them to good working relationship between staff, students, management and the college’s governing council.

(NAN)